Winslow recently appointed Paul as Machine Training Coordinator in the Melbourne’s North and West regions, bringing his expertise to the role.
Paul’s appointment maintains the high operator standards throughout Winslow while ensuring safety and productivity while providing career opportunities to anyone willing to learn how to step into a machine.
With years of hands-on experience in the industry, Paul possesses in-depth knowledge of machines having been operating them since he was 16.
“I've been around earthworks and machinery since I was a young boy – I’ve always had an interest in anything with an engine and levers,” Paul said. “My best mate’s dad had machines and we would play around on them on the weekends.
“I eventually got a job at 16 operating a 35-tonne machine and I just progressed in the industry fairly quickly and kept moving up in the earthmoving operating chart to a (Caterpillar) D11 dozer.”
A normal day for Paul is to attend a prestart and meet with the operators and Foremen to discuss how to safely increase productivity.
“I usually get a called out to train someone on a machine, or to give someone advice on how they should approach a project,” Paul said.
“Once a job is completed, I go around checking machines and operators to make sure they’re happy and doing things the most efficient way.
“I hope to share my knowledge with other operators to help them improve and become the best operator, to increase their knowledge about the machine while also being safety conscious.”
He says anyone can be an operator if they are willing to learn and listen to advice.
“Anyone who wants to jump into a machine should be willing to learn something new every day because there is not a day that you won't learn something new in a machine,” he said.